Joe Kent, the head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his post in protest against the ongoing war with Iran, marking a significant dissent within the American security establishment.

In his resignation statement, Kent said he could not “in good conscience” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States.

His departure makes him one of the highest-ranking officials to step down over the war, highlighting growing divisions within the administration over the justification and direction of the conflict.

Kent also suggested that the decision to go to war was influenced by external pressures, raising further questions about the policy-making process behind the military campaign.

The resignation has reportedly stunned intelligence officials in Washington and is expected to intensify scrutiny of the war, both within government circles and among lawmakers.

The move shows the level of deepening unease over US President Donald Trump’s war rhetoric, with concerns mounting about its long-term geopolitical and security implications.